Annie flushed and looked down at her hands.
“Ah, so he has shocked you. I’m sorry. I made him promise he’d give this a chance.” She glared at Dr. Winslow and stepped around him into the room. “I sincerely hope he hasn’t done anything to make you change your mind.”
“No, of course not, Mrs. Gwenneg.” Annie smiled her reassurance at the older woman. “In fact, I came to let you know I was accepting the position. If you still wanted me, that is. I brought my references.”
“We still want you, you dear girl.” Mrs. Gwenneg engulfed Annie in a hug.
Annie wasn’t sure what to do with her arms. She glanced at Dr. Winslow and thought she saw a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. Could he see her discomfort so clearly? Was he enjoying it?
“Now, we need to talk particulars,” said Mrs. Gwenneg. “I’ll fetch us some tea and we can get everything settled.” She disappeared into the back of the house leaving Annie and Dr. Winslow in uncomfortable silence.
He finally stepped into the room and motioned to the chair closest to Annie. “Please. Sit.” He proceeded to drape himself into a chair and stare at her.
Annie perched on the edge of her seat. Why was he staring like that? She wanted to run a hand over her hair or use a handkerchief on her nose, fearful she’d missed something embarrassing when she took that last, hasty look in the mirror at home. Was she still wearing her apron? She glanced at the front of her dress and found, to her relief, she wasn’t.
Dr. Winslow sat up and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Kat tells me you’ve met the children.”
“Yes, sir. All of them except Darren. They are lovely children, Dr. Winslow. I’m looking forward to spending time with them.”
“Ava is a handful.”
Annie blinked a couple times at this abrupt statement. She hesitated. “Ava is on the verge of becoming a young woman. She just lost her mother. I’d imagine that accounts for her being a handful now and then.”
“You think you can manage her.” Again, it was a statement, not a question.
“I’ve managed classrooms of children before, Dr. Winslow. One girl doesn’t frighten me.”
“She’ll push you, try to make you angry.”
“I’m a very stubborn person. She can push me all she wants.”
“She’ll try to get you to do things with them she knows I won’t allow.”
Annie frowned. “I’ll need to know ahead of time what activities are off limits.”
The man stood and began to pace the room. “Do you have a notebook? You should write this down so you don’t forget.”
Annie scrounged through her handbag until she found a scrap of paper and pencil. She removed it and waited for him to speak, pencil poised over paper ready to write.
“That will never do. You’ll need more paper than that.” Dr. Winslow left the room and came back a moment later with a larger sheet of paper. He handed it to Annie and resumed pacing.
“They are not, under any circumstances, allowed outside the house.”
“Of course,” said Annie as she scribbled the words on the page. “I’ll make sure they are supervised every time they play out of doors.”
Dr. Winslow stopped in front of Annie. “You misunderstand me. They are never allowed outside.”
Annie frowned again. “That’s unhealthy. Children need to run and play in the sunshine.”
“My children do not.” He scowled at her.
“I…I see,” Annie stammered.
“You will observe strict nap and bedtimes. They should all lie down as soon as lunch is finished. My sister and I will handle bedtimes, and we’ll give you further instruction should you ever be the one who stays with them.”
“I can assign quiet reading to Ava and Danny while the others sleep.”
“Again, you misunderstand me. All of them take a nap. Including Ava and Danny.”
Annie slapped the pencil onto the paper. “Sir, this rule…”
But Dr. Winslow had continued speaking, ignoring Annie’s protests. “They must never mix with other children.”
Annie made no move to pick up the pencil. His demands were ludicrous. Was he mentally unstable? What was she getting herself into?
“Aren’t you going to write this down?”
Annie’s eyes shot daggers at the doctor, but she picked up the pencil and wrote.
“I will give you a list of calisthenics they must do every day. My sister has a list of jobs they each are responsible for on a daily basis.”
Mrs. Gwenneg bustled into the room with a tea tray, saving Annie from saying something she would have regretted. She set it on an end table and poured cups for each of them. “My brother isn’t overwhelming you with his silly rules, is he?”
Annie relaxed into her chair and managed a smile. “He was sharing a few of his preferences regarding the care of his children.”
“They aren’t preferences. You’ll be dismissed from the position if you don’t follow them.”
“She will not, Coren. You need her more than she needs you. Besides, I never follow all those rules. Ava and Danny do not need naps.” She handed a cup of tea to her brother. Annie watched their eyes lock in challenge. Dr. Winslow dropped his first.
“I’ll take my tea to my office and leave you ladies to it. Since it’s clear none of my wishes will be observed.” His scowl would have peeled paint from walls. Annie cringed.
Mrs. Gwenneg handed Annie a cup of tea then took a seat with her own cup. “I’m sorry about my brother. He’s never been the same since his wife died giving birth to Darren. He is consumed with irrational fear he’ll lose the children. It drives all of his decisions. I’m suspicious he’s stopped sleeping at night, which is only making the situation worse.”
“He’s a doctor. I’d imagine he gets called out at all hours of the day and night.”
“True, but he’s not sleeping even when he’s not called out.” Mrs. Gwenneg sighed. She stared into her teacup for several long seconds. “I worry about him and don’t know how to help him get over Sarah’s death.”
“What about your own family?” asked Annie
“My husband is fine with me being here right now. He’s taken a job with the Tennessee Valley Authority. They’re living in shacks while they build better housing for the laborers. It’s a good job and he’s thankful for it, but he needs me. I need him, too.” She gave Annie a sad smile. “I’ve been here with my brother since the day after Sarah died. Nine long months ago.”
Annie reached across the distance and squeezed the older woman’s hand where it rested in her lap. “Dr. Winslow couldn’t ask for a more loving sister.”
“He could, actually. I’ve been pretty hard on him the last few weeks.” Mrs. Gwenneg took a deep breath. “Enough of that. I was hoping you could begin on Monday. It’s only a few days away and I’d understand if you need more time.”
“No, that will work fine. I’ll need to assess where the children are academically. I have a few books I can use but we may need to borrow some from the local school.”
“Their teachers sent them home with books months ago. I don’t know if they’ve even touched them. I tried to keep up with their studies for a few weeks but gave up. I didn’t have time to deal with a newborn and running the household and their school work on top of that.”
Annie drew a line on her paper and jotted notes below it. “What grades were they in before…” she hesitated.
“Before their mother died? It’s okay to say it, Miss Petit. The children need to talk about it. So does my brother.” She thought for a moment. “I’m not sure what grades they were in. Let me call Ava and see if she knows.”
“What do I do about his list?” Annie asked while they waited for Ava to bring the school books.
“I’ve been ignoring it. But I’m careful when I ignore his rules and when I don’t. For instance, I’m more likely to send them outside to play or let them play with the neighbor children when he’s on a house call. And you should forget
those infernal calisthenics. The only one who does them voluntarily is Ava and she’s made it plain she hates playing outside.”
“The next few weeks could be interesting,” said Annie, more to herself than anyone.
“That they could,” agreed Mrs. Gwenneg. “I sense you’re up to the task.”
“I hope so.”
“Don’t let him bully you into doing something you know isn’t right,” said Mrs. Gwenneg. “I’ll be here for a while. I can back you up. These children have been robbed of enough of their childhood already.”
“Has he always been this,” Annie hesitated again. “…angry?” She hated talking about Dr. Winslow behind his back, yet she felt she needed to be prepared for what lay ahead.
“No. He’s always been even tempered and level headed. He and Sarah were inseparable since childhood. He blames himself for her death.”
“Why ever would he do that?”
“He’s a doctor. He feels like he should have been able to save her. That’s why he’s so over-protective of the children. He’s trying to keep anything bad from happening to them, too.”
Annie gave Mrs. Gwenneg a reassuring smile. “I’ll do everything in my power to help put his mind at ease. But those children need to play outside.”
“I couldn’t agree more, my dear. I couldn’t agree more.”
∞
Coren paced in his office. He could hear the women talking and it made him angrier by the minute. How dare that woman come in here and tell him what he should and should not do with his own children? It was bad enough coming from Kathryn. But this teacher? Insufferable.
To be fair, he knew deep down they were right. He had no business keeping five children in the house all day everyday. On the days he had no appointments and wasn’t called out to a sick room, he was relieved when Kat let them play outside. The constant pounding on the floor above him or the clatter up and down the stairs was enough to drive him mad.
When had his children become such a nuisance to him?
Everything had been perfect when Sarah was alive. The older children were at school all day. She knew how to manage them so the house was quiet. He could let them go to school. But the thought of letting them out of the house made his chest tighten until he struggled to breathe. He dropped into his desk chair to catch his breath.
Coren pictured the little brown-haired, brown-eyed teacher staring back at him in defiance. His own anger flared full force. Deep down, he knew he was being irrational, but he couldn’t stop the surge of frustration. Kathryn wouldn’t dare hire her to teach his children without discussing it with him first. And yet she had. All he could do was put his head down and wait for her to step out of line.
Chapter Six
Annie surveyed her teaching plan and the stack of books sitting on each desk. The children were still eating breakfast and she wanted everything in order when they arrived in the classroom.
Vivian dashed into the room first. She threw her arms around Annie’s legs. “You’re here, Miss Pet! I thought you wouldn’t come.”
Annie crouched until she was eye level with the little girl. “Why don’t you call me Miss Annie? It’s easier to say.”
The boys filed into the room, followed by Ava and Mrs. Gwenneg, who was carrying Darren.
“Is it okay with you if they call me Miss Annie?” she asked their aunt.
“It’s fine with me as long as they don’t give you any cheek.”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Annie smiled around the room at the children. Ava glared back at her. Danny’s return smile was uncertain. Ezra beamed and bounced from one foot to the other.
“Will Darren be joining us for school?” Annie asked. The baby regarded her where she knelt on the floor next to Vivian. His brown eyes were huge and he sucked his thumb as if his life depended on it.
“He’ll need a nap soon. I’ll leave him here to play with Vivian until I finish clearing breakfast. I can lay him down afterward.”
Annie reached for the baby. He leaned into his aunt and sucked his thumb harder.
Vivian ran over and Darren grinned at his big sister. “Darren, this is Miss Annie. She’s nice.”
Darren popped his thumb out of his mouth and reached down to his sister. Annie swept him out of Mrs. Gwenneg’s arms instead. He stiffened and started to pull away. Vivian threw her arms around them both, knocking Annie off balance. She sat hard on the floor and started laughing as Vivian clambered onto her lap, too.
Darren stared at Annie’s face for several long moments. His face spread into a grin and he started clapping.
“He likes you,” said Danny. “He doesn’t like new people.”
“Then I feel privileged to be accepted,” said Annie. She gave the baby a hug. Frustrated at having been still too long, he wiggled off her lap and crawled across the floor to the toy box. Vivian joined him. Annie pushed to her feet. She glanced at the door in time to see Mrs. Gwenneg wave and disappear, shutting the door behind her.
“Let’s begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, just like they’d do in a regular school. Afterward, we’ll pray before we begin.”
“Papa says he isn’t sure there’s a God for us to pray to.” Ava’s defiant glare took Annie aback.
Annie hesitated, unsure what to say to the angry girl before her. “That’s between your papa and God,” she said finally. “I was raised to ask God to help us with every one of our endeavors. Your education is my endeavor, and I want God’s help with it.”
Ava pressed her lips shut. Annie suspected the girl would tell her father everything about the day, but she didn’t care. She wanted to do right by these children.
“Mama always said prayers,” said Ezra.
“Yes, well Mama isn’t here, is she?” snapped Ava.
Annie raised her hands. “Children, we need to begin. Place your hand over your heart and face the flag.”
∞
The hours flew by that morning. Annie assessed each of the children and their progress in the books they’d brought from school. Ava had managed to remember what she’d learned, but both of the boys had regressed. Annie made notes on her teaching plan and settled them all at their desks with assignments.
By that time, Darren was lying on the floor, sucking his thumb, banging one tiny foot against the floor in an effort to stay awake. Annie scooped him into her arms and carried him to the nursery. Vivian followed. She showed Annie where to find the diapers and gave careful instruction on how to change him.
When she finished, she lifted him off the changing table. Darren sagged against her shoulder. She carried him into the school room to check on the other children. A moment later, she realized he was asleep, his tiny body conformed to hers in complete relaxation.
Annie cradled him against her. A longing grew in her. She’d always loved children and wanted her own. This sweet baby only made the longing worse. She held him as long as she dared before she tucked him into his crib and pulled the door half shut between the two rooms.
Vivian tapped her leg. “Miss Annie, I want to do school, too.”
“I thought you might, Miss Vivian. I brought paper and a pencil for you. You can learn to read and write.”
“Ava says I’m too little.”
“You aren’t too little if you want to learn.”
Vivian scrambled into the remaining desk in the room. Annie showed her how to write several letters and taught her the sounds they made. She drilled the boys on their math facts. She tested Ava’s history and found she needed to review. The morning flew by before Annie realized it. Darren woke from his nap and it was time for lunch.
“They’ve worked hard this morning,” Annie told Mrs. Gwenneg. “Is Dr. Winslow here?”
“He was called out an hour ago. I say let them run a bit so they sit better this afternoon.”
The warm fall day called Annie. As soon as they’d finished eating, she shooed them all outside.
“Papa doesn’t want us playing outside,” hissed Ava as she walked past.
“I’m sure you’re going to tell him all about it, aren’t you?” said Annie.
The girl whipped around, shocked. “Of course I will. Aunt Kat won’t tell him. He has to find out from someone.”
“I’m not trying to hide anything from your father.”
“You wouldn’t send us outside if he was here.”
Annie worked to school her emotions. She wanted to rebuke the child in front of her. She took a deep breath before answering. “I might. We’ll have to wait and see on a day when he is here after lunch. Feel free to tell him anything you want about what we’ve done today. I have nothing to hide. Do you want me to enforce his rule about nap time, too?”
Ava’s face turned red. “I’m too old for naps,” she muttered.
“I agree. Besides, you didn’t finish your school work this morning. I thought the naps should be for Vivian and Darren, don’t you? You be sure to tell your father I didn’t make you take a nap today.”
Ava studied Annie for a long time before she followed her brothers and sister outside. She stood on the porch and watched as Annie played tag with the other children. They all trooped in for a drink and school or nap time.
∞
That evening, Annie reviewed her first day of teaching as she walked home in the fall twilight. She was satisfied with everything they’d accomplished that day. Ava had been less hostile as the afternoon wore on. Vivian could proficiently write all the letters Annie had taught her. Ezra had decided he liked math, which made Danny decide he liked it more, so he worked harder on his long multiplication than he would have otherwise.
Annie found her mother in the midst of a pile of ironing. She tied on an apron to help.
“How was your day?” asked Annette without looking up.
“It went better than expected, though I don’t know if I’ll have the job after Dr. Winslow gets home.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Remember that list of rules I told you about? I broke almost all of them. I’m sure Ava has already informed her father of the fact, too.”
“Did you do what you thought was right?”
“Yes. But I’m afraid I’m teaching Ava to be even more defiant than she already is. He doesn’t even believe in God anymore.”
Loving Annie Page 3
